Mariners Minor League Wrap Up – Week of 8/29 to 9/5

Nearly all the affiliates finished season play… and boy are their legs tired.

Arizona Summer League (Rk)

8/29: Royals 9, Mariners 2
SEASON OVER.

25-31 overall (2nd AZL West, 13 GB).
Off: 5.07 R/G (11th of 13)… Def: 6.21 R/G (11th of 13)

Top hitters (League Line 274/351/406):
Phillips Castillo (OF, 17): 300/366/482 in 194 PA
Alfredo Morales (CF, 18): 405/452/608 in 84 PA
Felipe Burin (2B, 19): 319/391/393 in 185 PA
Yidid Batista (UT, 21): 306/406/354 in 173 PA, 13 SB (7 CS)
Chris Andreas (1B, 23): 336/398/414 in 128 PA

Top pitchers (League ERA 4.73):
Trevor Miller (SP, 20): 49.2 IP, 2 HR, 12 BB, 36 K, 4.30 FIP
Charles Kaalekahi (SP, 19): 55.0 IP, 5 HR, 17 BB, 44 K, 5.10 FIP
Gabe Saquilon (RP, 18): 22.0 IP, 0 HR, 10 BB, 19 K, 4.01 FIP
Yunior De Jesus (RP, 22): 24.0 IP, 1 HR, 5 BB, 16 K, 4.34 FIP
Marcos Reyna (RP, 21): 31.1 IP, 2 HR, 16 BB, 31 K, 4.76 FIP

If you can’t hit for power in the Arizona League, chances are likely you’ll never hit for power in the big leagues… should you ever get there. Nobody in the AZLMs lineup hit more than two bombs this season, and the two men who did weren’t regulars: Alfredo Morales got promoted and Hassiel Jimenez only saw 14 plate appearances. This group had a lot of Latin teenagers, and the older players clearly didn’t show any power stroke.

This would have been acceptable had the pitching staff shown solid control and groundball tendencies. They showed neither. Of the 16 guys who logged double digit innings for the AZLMs this year, only four walked fewer than 2.5 guys per 9, and 10 of the 16 walked 4 or more per 9. Pitching in a launchpad’s hard enough when you aren’t walking the world.

Sure, there were bright spots. Alex Sunderland had terrific stuff in limited work (22.0 IP) though he did give up four bombs, 2nd most on the team, despite his dearth of innings. The gopher problem was his biggest mark, though, and in non-launchpad environments the 21 year old may be a decent bullpen prospect. Maxx Catapano also had solid stuff out of the pen (9.1 K/9) but was a bit too erratic with the control (3.5 BB/9).

Of the hurlers in house, the most promising so far is probably 19 year old Charles Kaalekahi, who had solid walk (2.8/9) and K rates (7.2/9) with a team leading 5 home runs allowed in 55 frames. He doesn’t have the shine of other teenage Mariner pitching prospects, but the solid peripherals in the face of team suckage indicates that, if his body holds up, he could provide some intrigue as he climbs the ranks.

Pulaski Mariners (Rk+)

8/29: Pulaski 4, Greeneville 0
8/30: Pulaski 3, Greeneville 1
SEASON OVER.

32-36 overall (3rd of 5 in App East, 8 GB).
Off: 4.53 R/G (9th of 10)… Def: 5.22 R/G (6th of 10)

Top hitters (League Line 261/334/403):
Daniel Paolini (2B, 21): 284/378/463 in 254 PA
Efrain Nuñez (OF, 20): 291/367/507 in 168 PA
Jean Acevedo (3B, 20): 300/369/405 in 258 PA
Jamal Austin (CF, 20): 335/405/383 in 238 PA, 20 SB (8 CS)
Guillermo Pimentel (OF, 18): 265/308/441 in 266 PA

Top pitchers (League ERA 4.37):
Angel Raga (RP, 21): 44.0 IP, 4 HR, 8 BB, 47 K, 3.44 FIP
Mayckol Guaipe (SP, 20): 64.0 IP, 2 HR, 20 BB, 49 K, 4.15 FIP
Kyle Hunter (RP, 22): 22.1 IP, 1 HR, 3 BB, 31 K, 1.97 FIP
Dylan Unsworth (SP, 18): 61.0 IP, 7 HR, 10 BB, 46 K
Reynaldo Sabala (RP, 20): 41.0 IP, 4 HR, 17 BB, 48 K, 4.09 FIP

Though his hot start cooled considerably, Jamal Austin showed not just solid base stealing prowess but put the ball in play well while drawing a fair share of walks. He’s got some work to do given his sore lack of power (.048 ISO), but the 20 year old’s got some promise heading into a like 2012 in A ball.

Like many other Mariner Latin bonus babies, Guillermo Pimentel is flashing surprising talent for a teenager but sorely lacks plate discipline, walking in less than 6% of his PAs while whiffing over 27% of the time. However, 11 home runs in 266 PA as an 18 year old against a top rookie league shows this project still has tremendous upside. The M’s are taking it slow with Pimentel, and we’ll probably see the teenager in Everett next year.

There’s not a ton to crow about on the pitching side, but Angel Raga finished awfully hot as he switched to the rotation, and I think he might begin the season with a test drive in Clinton. If he can continue to walk less than 2 guys per 9 and can get past High Desert in a year or two without getting annihilated, I think he’s got a shot at the big club in a few years.

Everett Aquasox (Short Season A)

8/29: Off.
8/30: Everett 9, Spokane 4
8/31: Spokane 3, Everett 1
9/01: Spokane 3, Everett 0
9/02: Everett 7, Spokane 5
9/03: Spokane 4, Everett 2
SEASON OVER.

2 wins, 3 losses, 37-39 overall (3rd of 4 in NWL West, 9 GB).
Off: 4.88 R/G (3rd of 8)… Def: 4.86 R/G (4th of 8)

Hitters of the Week
Jabari Blash: 6-16, 2 doubles, HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 7 K, SB
James Wood: 3-11, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K, SB

Notable pitching
Stephen Landazuri: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 7 K on 8/30

Top hitters (League Line 255/333/371):
Jabari Blash (OF, 21): 292/393/574 in 229 PA, 10 SB, (3 CS)
Mario Yepez (RF, 23): 332/368/412 in 286 PA
James Wood (DH, 23): 260/329/462 in 249 PA
Jharmidy De Jesus (IF, 21): 299/374/408 in 231 PA
Marcus Littlewood (SS, 19): 206/337/373 in 279 PA

Top pitchers (League ERA 4.04):
Jose Campos (SP, 18): 81.1 IP, 4 HR, 13 BB, 85 K, 2.79 FIP
Cameron Hobson (RP, 22): 43.2 IP, 4 HR, 8 BB, 51 K, 3.01 FIP
Kyle Hunter (RP, 22): 24.2 IP, 0 HR, 6 BB, 31 K, 1.92 FIP
Stephen Landazuri (SP, 19): 72.1 IP, 5 HR, 29 BB, 72 K, 4.02 FIP
Stephen Kohlscheen (SP, 22): 35.2 IP, 1 HR, 11 BB, 31 K, 3.16 FIP

To their credit the Aquasox at least finished strong, and the pitching looks especially bright at year’s end. But many top NWLers are guys who struggled mightily at full season A ball, indicating it’s one of the bigger jumps in the minor leagues. Stephen Kohlscheen and Jabari Blash are two prime examples of guys who had a rough time in Clinton, but dropped to Everett and looked great.

Kyle Hunter warrants credit for jumping a level and looking dominant in both levels. That said, a 22 year old handling 19-21 year olds in Rk+ and short A ball isn’t terribly surprising, and the key for him is to not miss a beat in Clinton starting 2012, and perhaps even net himself a promotion to High Desert for a decent campaign there.

Cameron Hobson also finished super strong and faces a similar challenge. As we see more teenage phenoms and 20-22 year old MLB superstar rookies, the leash of prospecthood gets shorter for 21-23 year olds in A ball. You have to move quickly and hit few to no setbacks or you get forgotten.

******

I’m under the gun right now so I’m going to speed through the rest of these. I’ve pretty much given the bulk of my thoughts on the below guys anyway. LIGHTNING ROUND!

Clinton LumberKings (A)

8/29: Beloit 6, Clinton 3
8/30: Cancelled due to rain.
8/31: Quad Cities 21, Clinton 10
9/01: Quad Cities 8, Clinton 5
9/02: Quad Cities 4, Clinton 1
9/03: Clinton 6, Kane County 1
9/04: Kane County 3, Clinton 1
9/05: Clinton 9, Kane County 3

2 wins, 5 losses, 39-30 in 2nd half (2nd in MWL West, 2.5 GB), 63-76 overall.
Off: 4.07 R/G (11th of 16)… Def: 4.41 R/G (9th of 16)

Hitter of the Week
Brad Miller: 13-25, double, triple, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K, SB

Notable pitching
Stephen Kohlscheen: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K on 9/3
Jessie Nava: 3 relief IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K on 9/3

Top hitters (League Line 250/323/370):
Stefen Romero (UT, 22): 280/342/462 in 478 PA, 16 SB (9 CS)
Kalian Sams (RF, 24): 237/301/464 in 357 PA, 25 SB (4 CS)
Kevin Rivers (OF, 22): 249/332/406 in 324 PA
Mike McGee (CF, 22): 283/351/426 in 267 PA
Tim Morris (1B, 23): 252/331/356 in 381 PA, 21 SB (6 CS)

Top pitchers (League ERA 3.77):
Taijuan Walker (SP, 18): 96.2 IP, 4 HR, 39 BB, 113 K, 2.86 FIP
Anthony Fernandez (SP, 21): 125.1 IP, 6 HR, 42 BB, 107 K, 3.32 FIP
Tyler Burgoon (RP, 22): 62.2 IP, 1 HR, 15 BB, 66 K, 2.21 FIP
James Paxton (SP, 22): 56.0 IP, 1 HR, 30 BB, 80 K, 2.39 FIP
Jonathan Arias (RP, 23): 63.1 IP, 3 HR, 38 BB, 101 K, 2.67 FIP

High Desert Mavericks (A+)

8/29: High Desert 7, Bakersfield 6
8/30: Rancho Cucamonga 12, High Desert 11
8/31: Rancho Cucamonga 8, High Desert 7
9/01: Rancho Cucamonga 13, High Desert 11
9/02: High Desert 4, Bakersfield 2
9/03: Bakersfield 5, High Desert 1
9/04: Bakersfield 5, High Desert 4
9/05: High Desert 10, Bakersfield 0
SEASON OVER.

3 wins, 5 losses, 27-43 in 2nd half (5th of 5 in CAL South), 59-81 overall.
Off: 5.70 R/G (5th of 10)… Def: 7.04 R/G (10th of 10)

Hitter of the Week
Jamie McOwen: 13-33, double, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4 K, 9 straight games with RBI

Notable pitching
Taylor Stanton: 7 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K on 9/5

Top hitters (League Line 277/349/430):
Daniel Carroll (LF, 22): 299/418/477 in 594 PA, 62 SB (14 CS)
DenniS Raben (1B, 23): 330/387/599 in 347 PA
Vincent Catricala (UT, 22): 351/421/574 in 324 PA
Denny Almonte (CF, 22): 268/298/490 in 537 PA, 18 SB (12 CS)
Trevor Coleman (C, 23): 265/379/386 in 369 PA

Top pitchers (League ERA 4.90):
Chris Sorce (SP, 23): 165.0 IP, 17 HR, 43 BB, 105 K, 4.92 FIP
Austin Hudson (RP, 23): 72.1 IP, 3 HR, 25 BB, 51 K, 4.45 FIP
Taylor Stanton (SP, 23): 65.1 IP, 7 HR, 13 BB, 45 K, 4.65 FIP
Willy Kesler (RP, 23): 40.1 IP, 3 HR, 13 BB, 32 K, 4.37 FIP
James Gillheeney (SP, 23): 107.2 IP, 21 HR, 28 BB, 109 K, 5.50 FIP

Jackson Generals (AA)

8/29: Huntsville 6, Jackson 4
8/30: Huntsville 6, Jackson 3
8/31: Off.
9/01: Jacksonville 7, Jackson 6
9/02: Jacksonville 4, Jackson 3
9/03: Jackson 6, Jacksonville 0
9/04: Jackson 5, Jacksonville 2
9/05: Jacksonville 8, Jackson 4

2 wins, 5 losses, 30-40 in 2nd half (4th of 5 in SOU North, 12.5 GB), 68-72 overall.
Off: 4.44 R/G (7th of 10)… Def: 4.66 R/G (6th of 10)

Hitter of the Week
Francisco Martinez: 10-25, 3 doubles, triple, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 K, SB

Notable pitching
Yoervis Medina: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K on 8/30
James Gillheeney: 7 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K on 9/3
(no hitter broken up against Stephen Penney in 8th)
Steven Hensley: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 92 R), 1 BB, 3 K on 9/4

Top hitters (League Line 263/339/400):
Vincent Catricala (UT, 22): 347/420/632 in 276 PA
Scott Savastano (2B, 25): 283/362/446 in 428 PA
Jake Shaffer (LF, 23): 287/333/443 in 485 PA
Rich Poythress (1B, 23): 267/347/416 in 511 PA
Kyle Seager (2B, 23): 312/381/459 in 299 PA

Top pitchers (League ERA 4.12):
Andrew Carraway (SP, 24): 137.2 IP, 9 HR, 25 BB, 106 K, 3.38 FIP
Jarrett Grube (SP, 29): 84.0 IP, 4 HR, 20 BB, 69 K, 3.07 FIP
Erasmo Ramirez (SP, 21): 110.1 IP, 10 HR, 19 BB, 81 K, 3.75 FIP
Anthony Vasquez (SP, 24): 100.1 IP, 6 HR, 19 BB, 59 K, 3.72 FIP
James Paxton (SP, 22): 39.0 IP, 2 HR, 13 BB, 51 K, 2.44 FIP

Tacoma Rainiers (AAA)

8/29: Tacoma 4, Tucson 2
8/30: Tucson 2, Tacoma 0
8/31: Tacoma 6, Tucson 1
9/01: Tacoma 7, Tucson 3
9/02: Fresno 7, Tacoma 2
9/03: Fresno 4, Tacoma 2
9/04: Tacoma 7, Fresno 5
9/05: Fresno 12, Tacoma 9

4 wins, 3 losses, 70-74 overall (2nd of 4 in PCL Pacific North, 7 GB).
Off: 6.20 R/G (3rd of 16)… Def: 5.89 R/G (11th of 16)

Hitter of the Week
Greg Halman: 14-36, 2 doubles, HR, 5 RBI, BB, 8 K, 3 SB

Notable pitching
Jarrett Grube: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K on 8/29
Erasmo Ramirez: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K on 8/30
Nate Robertson: 8 IP, 5 H, (1 R), 1 BB, 5 K on 8/31
Luke French: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K on 9/1
Erasmo Ramirez: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K on 9/4

Top hitters (League Line 286/359/448):
Mike Wilson (RF, 28): 331/418/555 in 388 PA
Mike Carp (LF, 25): 343/411/649 in 286 PA
Alex Liddi (3B, 22): 259/332/488 in 637 PA
Johan Limonta (1B, 27): 319/382/477 in 460 PA
Dustin Ackley (2B, 23): 303/421/487 in 331 PA

Top pitchers (League ERA 5.13):
Cesar Jimenez (RP, 26): 71.0 IP, 3 HR, 35 BB, 81 K, 3.53 FIP
Blake Beavan (SP, 22): 93.0 IP, 10 HR, 20 BB, 64 K, 4.49 FIP
Scott Patterson (RP, 32): 47.1 IP, 4 HR, 6 BB, 53 K, 3.02 FIP
Chris Seddon (SP, 27): 149.1 IP, 20 HR, 69 BB, 119 K, 5.38 FIP
Josh Lueke (RP, 26): 42.1 IP, 1 HR, 12 BB, 35 K, 3.65 FIP